Religious Orientation and Depression

The phrase “psychology of religion” means to use scientific methods that can improve our understanding of religion. Religious orientation can be labeled as Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and many other religious affiliations. Religious individuals believe in a divine power and can be separated into two religious orientations: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic religious motivations are characterized by internalized beliefs that are adhered to regardless of the external consequences. Extrinsic religious motivations are characterized by a desire to gain status, security, self justification or sociability. Conducting a research study helps determine whether intrinsic and extrinsic religious orientation has a relationship with depression in individuals.

In a previous research study, Genia, Vicky, and Shaw hypothesized that depressive symptoms were negatively related to intrinsic religious orientation and positively related to extrinsic religious orientation. The results supported this hypothesis and the final conclusion between depression and extrinsic scores showed a correlation when the sociodemographic variables are controlled. Extrinsic orientation puts the center on oneself and prevents spiritual growth. Intrinsic orientation, however, seeks future growth, faith, humility, and perfection. According to the data in this periodical, religiosity (without regard to particular denominations) in adolescents is related to less problem behavior and prayer is an effective coping strategy to decrease anxiety and depression. Referring to Carl Jung, adolescents with high levels of church attendance and spiritual meaning in life, that is, intrinsic orientation, demonstrate lower levels of depression.

To see if a correlation exists between religion and depression, a random sample of twenty-five students (aged 18 to 24) was taken from North Dakota State University, which consisted of 12 females and 17 males with religious preferences of Evangelical Free, Presbyterian, Assembly of God, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, and Jewish. Since this study focuses on intrinsic and extrinsic religious orientation, only religious individuals who believe in a divine power participated in this experiment. The participants were asked to fill out a voluntary consent form, followed by their personal data, which included sex, age, religious denomination, church attendance, household income, and marital status to find possible confounding variables. After the participants completed these forms, they took the Religious Orientation Scale Survey (ROS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to find out if there really is a relationship between religious orientation and depressive symptoms in individuals.

The hypothesis of the NDSU study is based on Genia, Vicky, and Shaw’s research. I predicted that people who were extrinsically motivated would have higher symptoms of depression than those with an intrinsic orientation. This hypothesis was accepted after viewing my results on the following graph. As depressive scores increased, extrinsic scores increased and intrinsic scores decreased. This means that people who have intrinsic religious views have fewer depressive symptoms. So, if people seek future growth and have more personal attachments to their religion, they are less likely to have depression. The results from both studies show that an intrinsic view of religion is related to lower depressive symptoms.

 

If the studies in both of the results are true, then we should be aware of our religious motivations and how they can affect our own depressive symptoms. Gaining awareness of this correlation will empower people, making them conscious of the connections between their symptoms and motivations. The sample of NDSU students that participated in this study is representative of all college students between 18 to 24 because they were randomly chosen for a scientifically designed study. The relationship between depression and religion is also useful for people other than college students, whether it’s a doctor trying to detect or treat depressive symptoms, parents deciding how to teach their children about religion, or individuals seeking knowledge about their psychological symptoms.
Works Cited

Genia, Vicky, & Shaw, Dale. (1991). Religion, Intrinsic-Extrinsic Orientation, and Depression. Sociological Aspects, 32 (3), 274-283.
Spillet, M. A., Park, H.-S., Murgatroyd, W., Raynock, D. C. (1989). Relationship between intrinsic-extrinsic religious orientation and depressive symptoms in Korean Americans. Taylor & Francis, 11, 315-324.
Navara, Geoffrey S., & James, Susan. (2005). Acculturative stress of missionaries: Does religious orientation affect religious coping and adjustment? International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 29 (1), 39-58.